A poll with 97 voters conducted by TailorInStyle.com showed that for office shirts the pocket is still considered an element of the shirt which is acceptable among the masses. But having no pocket is even more acceptable.
The 97 voters answered the following question:
Get the FREE Men’s Button Down Dress Shirt Guide which includes a ‘pocket’ guide
Should Office/Work Dress Shirts Have Pockets?
1. Yes - 13 votes
2. No - 38 votes
3. Both answers are acceptable - 46 votes
Although these statistics are not conclusive it does show a slight favor in that shirts with no pockets are more suitable for the office if one of them had to be chosen.
If offices are assumed to be a more formal setting then pockets are less formal than no pockets.
Keep this in mind when buying your new shirt! I personally have always preferred the no pocket shirt.
May 1st, 2008 at 7:29 pm
When talking style with a new client, one of the first things I encourage is making their shirts without a pocket. I still have a couple hold outs but make 98% of my custom shirts without pockets. It really cleans up the look of the shirt.
Jeff Collins, Professional Haberdasher
http://www.myhaberdasher.com